White House Responds to Charge of Politicizing 9/11  —  The White House today dismissed charges by prominent Democrats that President Bush sought to capitalize politically on the Sept. 11 attacks when he addressed the nation on Monday night.  —  "The president was not making partisan remarks …

Attack on U.S. Embassy foiled … DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) — Syrian security forces killed four attackers Tuesday outside the U.S. Embassy in Damascus after a car exploded near the walls of the American compound, the Syrian Information Ministry said.  —  There was no claim of responsibility for the attack …

Reinforce Baghdad  —  We are at a crucial moment in Iraq.  Supporters of the war, like us, have in the past differed over tactics.  But at this urgent pass, there can be no doubt that we need to stop the downward slide in Iraq by securing Baghdad.  —  There is no mystery …

ONE ARAB'S APOLOGY  —  WELL, here it is, five years late, but here just the same: an apology from an Arab-American for 9/11.  No, I didn't help organize the killers or contribute in any way to their terrible cause.  However, I was one of millions of Arab-Americans who did the unspeakable on 9/11: nothing.

Arkansas Governor: Beebe by 11  —  Beebe (D) 49% Hutchinson (R) 38%  —  For the first time since May, State Attorney General Mike Beebe's lead in the race for Arkansas governor is back to double digits (see crosstabs).  The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Beebe leading Asa Hutchinson 49% to 38%.

Video: Commanders privately express needing 3X more troops  —  U.S. Commanders in Iraq have privately expressed the need for an increase of three times the number of troops currently serving in Iraq, reports Michael Ware of CNN.  Officially, the military continues to say that …

Stop blaming America for terrorism  —  'Poised as I am, halfway between the two cultures, it was a little strange watching British reactions to events in America last week.  It was a little strange even being in Britain last week.  On Tuesday after hijacked planes had hit targets in Washington …

Fears of revenge attacks on stingrays over Irwin death  —  At least ten stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australia's eastern coast in the last week in what conservationists believe could be revenge attacks for the death of Steve Irwin, the popular naturalist and television personality.

CONSPIRACY CRANKS  —  CREATING CRAZED '9/11 TRUTH'  —  ON Feb. 7, 2005, I became a member of the Bush/Halliburton/Zionist/CIA/ New World Order/Illuminati conspiracy for world domination.  That day, Popular Mechanics, the magazine I edit, hit newsstands with a story debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories.

Montgomery to Extend Voting Hours After Election Glitches  —  County Polling Places to Stay Open Until 9 P.M.  —  Polling stations in Montgomery County will remain open until 9 tonight—an hour later than usual—to accommodate voters who were turned away from the polls this morning …

Weighing the Enemies: Soviets Versus Islamists  —  Stephen Green (contra Glenn Reynolds) pines for the good old days of the Cold War. … To begin with, I disagree strongly that the Russians are part of the West.  As Samuel Huntington rightly noted, they didn't have a Protestant Reformation …

Cheney to stump for GOPer who bullied wife with guns  —  Vice President Dick Cheney will be attending a fundraiser for Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) in late September, today's issue of Roll Call reports.  —  The Vice President and Kuhl have each earned a measure of infamy for incidents involving firearms.

Toronto fest on 'Death' watch  —  Controversial pic inks distrib deals  —  Big buzz has turned into big bucks for controversial film "Death of a President," as Newmarket inked a deal Monday in Toronto to release in U.S. theaters the pic about the fictional assassination of President Bush.

Mary Katharine Ham: Rosie O'Moral Equivalence (Update: It's Equivalence Tuesday on Today!) … Update: I gots video of the political genius herself.  I love how she acts like Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the dumb one, when she's spouting this crap: "Afghanistan never threatened to kill us...We will never bring peace at the hands of war."